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	Click for a larger image. The Gunns 20 and supporters outside Melbourne Supreme Court. Photo: Peter Casamento

The Wilderness Society will fight Tasmanian woodchip giant Gunns Limited in court.

Last December Gunns Limited sued The Wilderness Society, five of its staff

• Alec Marr (National Campaign Director), first defendant, claim $280,000
• Geoff Law (Tasmanian Campaign Coordinator), second defendant, claim $180,000
• Russell Hanson (CEO), third defendant, claim $110,000
• Leanne Minshull (former employee), fourth defendant, claim $310,000
• Heidi Douglas (audio-visual producer), fifth defendant, claim $95,000
• The Wilderness Society Inc., sixth defendant, claim $2,525,000
• For a total claim on The Wilderness Society and its employees of $3,500,000

and 14 other groups and people (including Senator Bob Brown) for what it alleges are a series of wrongful acts. Gunns claims that The Wilderness Society and the other defendants engaged in a campaign against Gunns which constituted a conspiracy to injure Gunns by unlawful means, and that The Wilderness Society and the other defendants illegally interfered with their trade and business, thus causing economic loss.

Gunns is claiming a total of $6.4 million in damages from all claims — including claims of over $3.5m against The Wilderness Society and its officers.

We will vigorously defend the claims against us.

The Wilderness Society faces enormous costs in money, time, stress and worry.

We need your help right now.

This situation will place increased pressure on already limited resources. The continued support of our donors, members and new supporters is vital at this time, so that we may continue to fight for the future of our forests, Australia's wilderness and the future of The Wilderness Society.

Please make a tax-deductible donation to The Wilderness Society today - Please give whatever you can spare.

• Donate online here, phone 1800 030 641 or send cheques or money orders made out to The Wilderness Society to GPO Box 716, Hobart, Tas 7001, or at your closest Wilderness Society Shop or Campaign Centre.

The overwhelming public support for The Wilderness Society in the face of this lawsuit is enormously heartening. Thank you all for your support.

This action will not stop our campaign to protect Tasmania's old growth forests.

We can also advise that a separate Gunns 20 collective fighting fund has been created and you can donate via The Wilderness Society, as above, but specify that it is for the Gunns 20 fund. These donations are NOT tax deductible.

or you may

 

Donate to the Gunns 20 fund via Bob Brown via any Greens shop or via Bob Brown (Gunns 20), GPO Box 1132, Hobart, Tas 7001.

 

The Gunns 20:

 

First defendant, Alec Marr (National Campaign Director, The Wilderness Society), claim $280,000

Second defendant, Geoff Law (Tasmanian Campaign Coordinator, The Wilderness Society), claim $180,000

Third defendant, Russell Hanson (CEO, The Wilderness Society), claim $110,000

Fourth defendant, Leanne Minshull (formerly of The Wilderness Society), claim $310,000

Fifth defendant, Heidi Douglas (Audio-visual producer, The Wilderness Society), claim $95,000

Sixth defendant, The Wilderness Society Inc., claim $2,525,000

Total claim against The Wilderness Society and staff, $3,500,000

Seventh defendant, Adam Burling, claim $130,000

Eighth defendant, Louise Morris, claim $175,000

Ninth defendant, Simon Brown, claim $80,000

Tenth defendant, Bob Brown, claim $305,000

Eleventh defendant, Peg Putt, claim $95,000

Twelfth defendant, Helen Gee, claim $5,000

Thirteenth defendant, Ben Morrow , claim $40,000

Fourteenth defendant, Lou Geraghty, claim $30,000

Fifteenth defendant, Neil Funnell, claim $30,000

Sixteenth defendant, Brian Dimmick, claim $20,000

Seventeenth defendant, Huon Valley Environment Centre Inc., claim $270,000

Eighteenth defendant, Peter Pullinger, claim $250,000

Nineteenth defendant, Frank Nicklason, claim $250,000

Twentieth defendant, Doctors for Native Forests Inc., claim $50,000